It’s like beating a horse that’s been dead for thousands of years: “Secret Empire” was not great for fans, Marvel or its stable of heroes. (BTW, I don’t vouch for the science or accuracy of that horse link. I’m no horse scientist and this isn’t a science column.) Strip away everything and the story at the end of 10 issues is that this wasn’t Steve Rogers. He just looked and sounded exactly like him while executing state prisoners and destroying cities. The new status quo at the end of the book leaves all that intact. And while the idea of Cap disgusted with his country plays well (and it pretty damned relevant at the moment), the reverse — a citizenry mortified by what one of their venerated own was able and eager to do — is not a compelling or interesting story.

Yes, the horse is dead. (But remarkably well preserved. Just look at it back there for yourself.) But I will continue to beat it.

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DEADPOOL #35. Marvel. Written by Gerry Duggan. Art by Mike Hawthorne.

Deadpool’s hands are the third-dirtiest (after Cap and Marvel brass) in this whole “Empire” mess after killing Phil flippin’ Coulson and his friend Preston. But surprisingly, he finally takes ownership of his misdeeds and actually shows some humility and pain — the hallmarks of a good Deadpool story. The art in #35 is strong, especially in DP’s moments of despair, and the issue hits with a biting flashback to sunnier days at the beginning of the run.

Like the rest of “Secret Empire,” it’s not what I would have done with the character. (And “Deadpool” does introduce one really, really weird thing about the new status quo.) But “Deadpool” #35 is the best thing without question to come out of the event.

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Bourbon of the Week: Knob Creek

The Westin — one of five hotels hosting Dragoncon — stocked a handful of bourbons in its bar: Basil Hayden’s, Woodford, Woodford Double Oaked, Knob Creek and Maker’s. I have the first three at home, so my choice came down to those final two. It was more or less a coin flip, and my brain came up Knob Creek.

The first scent I got was vanilla, and as far as taste…there was a taste? Just a bucket of burn before I maybe got a little hickory. I felt like it would have been better on the rocks, and I never do that (rules to live by: bourbon neat, coffee black, steak rare).